Atmosphere At Marathon Shows Boston’s Resilience

Due to heightened security at the 118th Boston Marathon following the attacks at last year’s race and a concerted effort to discourage “bandit runners” from entering the course, there were noticeably fewer Boston College students running past Mile 21 on Monday. Despite the reduced number of familiar faces, though the atmosphere at this year’s marathon was not overwhelmingly different than that of years past-students, family members, friends, and neighbors still lined Comm. Ave. in order to cheer on the runners. State police, BCPD, Boston PD, Newton PD, and the National Guard, as well as Eagle EMS members, were visible throughout the course of the day, but onlookers took their presence in stride and maintained an air of celebration.

Although the law enforcement officials kept order admirably well, and students were for the most part respectful, Marathon Monday was not entirely quiet. According to the BCPD public blotter, there were 16 transports from various campus locations to a medical facility over the course of April 21-10 of the subjects were identified as BC students. Various other reports were logged, including confiscations, vandalism, civil possession of marijuana, larceny, underage intoxication, disorderly persons, and suspicious circumstances. There was also a significant amount of litter left along Comm. Ave. and around campus once the race was over. Overall, however, the BC student body comported itself well during the marathon. With 36,000 registered runners-an increase of nearly 13,000 over last year-and the added significance that this year’s race held, having a throng of students present to support the runners after they crested Heartbreak Hill was particularly important.